The View From Section 241 -- UCF

[businesslawyer]

Couple of other areas I liked.

Welcome back Alec Bloom. He's a big target who showed promise last year. He's a needed cog for the offense to click.

Secondly, it is a GREAT feeling when you are on the road and you have to go to your cell phone to see who's in the game for UConn. The game day program only listed the 2-deep. So when I'm having to see who #49 (Parker), #50(Lawley), #75(Oak), #70(Bokeloh) and a few others are, it's a good thing. Plenty of players go valuable playing time that pays dividends down the road. I doubt there were three dressed players who didn't see a snap.

This was my first game of the season so I got to see the players up close. A few observations. Pert looks skinny but has a nice frame to add the 30-40 lbs he'll need in the next two years. Samra looks very short compared to all the other linemen. Ron Johnson has massive legs. Tyler Davis is a big kid. Looks like a TE. McLean is a big kid too. He presents a big target for the QB.

Finally, no problems with the crowd or pre/post game festivities. There was a group of 8-10 UCF students who infiltrated the UConn section and were sitting in front of some of the UConn fans (probably parents of players). I was 3-4 rows behind and hadn't heard or seen anything crazy. But, three or four deputy sheriffs working the game walked down to the UCF students and calmly and quietly moved them on their way. Well done by the Orange County sheriffs dept.

On TV, it's very hard to track participation when the bench empties so thank you for that. Am I correct that Peart didn't play, and that Gifford, while not on the 2 deep, played LT with the 2s?

And good point on Bloom.

 

[huskymedic]

On TV, it's very hard to track participation when the bench empties so thank you for that. Am I correct that Peart didn't play, and that Gifford, while not on the 2 deep, played LT with the 2s?

And good point on Bloom.

I did not see Peart play nor is he in Participation Report.

UConn: 1B-HADLEY, Javon, 1A-BEALS, Tyraiq, 1E-TULLY, Tony, 3-JOHNSON, Ron, 7-GREEN, John, 8-LUCAS, Thomas, 10-STAPLETON, Cam., 13-DIGGS, Vontae, 14-BOYLE, Tim, 16-McALLISTER, Br., 17-PUYOL, Bobby, 18-LEMELLE, Brian, 19-MARDER, Ellis, 23-LEE, Junior, 26-MARRINER, Josh, 27-VITALE, Nick, 28-FLOYD, Jordan, 29-WATKINS, Anth., 30-STEVENS, Jalen, 34-CLAX, Jazzmar, 36-WALSH, Matt, 37-CLAFLIN, Jeremy, 40-TARBUTT, Mich., 42-WAIN, Justin, 44-DeLORENZO, Max, 49-PARKER, Dallas, 50-LAWLEY, Sher., 54-STEPHENS, Om., 55-HICKS, Jon, 57-ORMSBY, Cole, 66-MANCO, Dominick, 73-HASHEMI, Steve, 75-OAK, Daniel, 77-RUTHERFORD, Tr., 78-GIFFORD, Dalton, 85-McLEAN, Aaron, 92-MYERS, Mikal, 96-ATKINS, James, 99-MARINAN, Sean.
(does not include starters on Off/Def as they are listed separately)

 

[Chin Diesel]

No Part didn't play. Noticed him during pre game. I honestly think Peart and Davis are the only two who dressed and didn't play

Gifford did play. Not exactly sure which position.

 

[SAMCRO]

It's amazing what an impact a TE catching the ball downfield has on opening up running lanes on future plays. It's kind of nice not having 8-9 guys stacked within 3 yards of the LOS.
The O did a good job mixing things up, setting plays up for later in the game. It's refreshing to see a UConn offense make adjustments that actually work. That did not happen in the 4 years prior.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Oh good I've stumbed upon the thread where we all humblebrag about our second homes and elaborate vacations.

Someone let Art know we need an update on his bikini boat.

(before someone gets all hot and bothered it's a joke).

LOL. he's got a house in Vermont that fits the whole family and tough to tear the males away from. I've got a lean to shelter in New Hampshire that smells like doe urine, that males can't wait to get out of. We're all UCONN family though.

 

[businesslawyer]

No Part didn't play. Noticed him during pre game. I honestly think Peart and Davis are the only two who dressed and didn't play

Gifford did play. Not exactly sure which position.

Gifford plays at LT for the second line even though Peart is second on the depth chart.

 

[Kgun7]

Great write up, BL! Look forward to it every week. And hate to be "that guy" but it's Mayala. ...

 

[huskypantz]

Gifford plays at LT for the second line even though Peart is second on the depth chart.

Barring multiple injuries on the OL, we better not play Peart. He obviously has some serious skills but needs to put on quite a bit of weight. We've waited 6 games, wait 7 more.

 

[businesslawyer]

Barring multiple injuries on the OL, we better not play Peart. He obviously has some serious skills but needs to put on quite a bit of weight. We've waited 6 games, wait 7 more.

I think -- hope -- that we're at the point where even if Levy gets hurt they would go to Gifford and just let Peart redshirt. It's not like Gifford wasn't our best OT before he got hurt against BYU last year, and we're already dealing with the consequences of Rutherford, Samra and Hashemi never having taken a redshirt year.

 

[businesslawyer]

Great write up, BL! Look forward to it every week. And hate to be "that guy" but it's Mayala. ...

Don't mind corrections. Would rather let folks correct me then taking the time to proof the columns.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Gifford plays at LT for the second line even though Peart is second on the depth chart.

Not only did Gifford play LT for the first two (possibly more) series after they started sending subs in, Nwokeji also played at least one series at LT as well. When I sw this I got a bit pissed that we didn't redshirt Rutherford this season (Hashemi as well). My only guess is that the staff felt they needed insurance at tackle (in case of injury of poor play) and didn't want to be put in the position where eight or so games in they need to decide if it is worth maintaining his redshirt at the expense of the season.

That Hashemi's redshirt was burnt really is an indictment on some of the older guards on the roster who couldn't crack the two deep.

 

[hardcorehusky]

Gifford was the left tackle on the second string(-he is in the participation report). No way Peart is burning that redshirt this year.

 

[businesslawyer]

Not only did Gifford play LT for the first two (possibly more) series after they started sending subs in, Nwokeji also played at least one series at LT as well. When I sw this I got a bit pissed that we didn't redshirt Rutherford this season (Hashemi as well). My only guess is that the staff felt they needed insurance at tackle (in case of injury of poor play) and didn't want to be put in the position where eight or so games in they need to decide if it is worth maintaining his redshirt at the expense of the season.

That Hashemi's redshirt was burnt really is an indictment on some of the older guards on the roster who couldn't crack the two deep.

That may have been Nwokeji's first playing time in his five years with the program. If Rutherford is ahead of Gifford, and I assume he is, I understand why they didn't think they could redshirt both back-up tackles. Given that Hopkins, Vechery and Samra have taken every meaningful snap in the middle, I think they could have redshirted Hashemi (and had him ready to go if injuries happened, like Peart), except that Hashemi, because he has enough athleticism that he was a TE last year, plays special teams besides blocking for placements.

Having said all that, if Levy and Knappe are our starting tackles next year and Peart is ready to play, I would love to see them try to redshirt Rutherford next year (doing what Peart is doing now where if someone goes down he's playing but other guys can play the second line for placekicks and mop up duty). The good news about Crozier's pre-season injury is that he was forced to be given a fifth year to get stronger.

 

[businesslawyer]

LOL. he's got a house in Vermont that fits the whole family and tough to tear the males away from. I've got a lean to shelter in New Hampshire that smells like doe urine, that males can't wait to get out of. We're all UCONN family though.

Your cabin sounds like a place that females don't go to in the first place. Which probably means that males are happier staying in yours than mine!

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Luke has been invisible after week 2. Without seeing film, I seem to see Cam Stapleton making more plays.

I had the same thought about Luke. I wonder if he is slightly injured. I also thunk we have played less 4-3 where he excels. Seems tobe a lot of 3-4 or hybrid sets.

 

[gopher2]

Nice post, BL. One thing I like about our offense this season is that 3rd and long is no longer a death sentence. Even in our best offensive years with Edsall, those situations always seemed a little hopeless.

When Orlovsky was here 3rd and long was not hopeless by any means. But after Orlovsky it usually was.

 

[zls44]

Excellent post, except for the mathematical fallacy where you purport kicking a FG inside the 10, which should be a fireable offense in almost all situations.

 

[cttxus]

No Part didn't play. Noticed him during pre game. I honestly think Peart and Davis are the only two who dressed and didn't play

Gifford did play. Not exactly sure which position.

I think I saw G. Anderson on the sideline Saturday, too, and he obviously didn't play. We haven't talked much about him since the season started either. Seems like the coaches are keeping him ready just in case something happens to #1 & #2, but I have to think he's a RS candidate otherwise.

 

[businesslawyer]

Excellent post, except for the mathematical fallacy where you purport kicking a FG inside the 10, which should be a fireable offense in almost all situations.

So educate me/us. Is there some numerical analysis showing that? Where does your certainty come from?

 

[sdhusky]

So educate me/us. Is there some numerical analysis showing that? Where does your certainty come from?

http://www.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/2013/11/28/fourth-downs/post.html

 

[sdhusky]

http://nyt4thdownbot.com/

 

[businesslawyer]

http://www.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/2013/11/28/fourth-downs/post.html

Thanks. Look forward to reading it.

 

[scdono]

It's really great to see UConn football being worth watching past the first 15 minutes of the game. This team is fun to watch and deserves to go to a bowl game. both the offense and defense appear to be improving each week, minus a few mental mistakes. In fact, not that it means anything, but the point spreads in the last two games have improved. I take it Vegas is noticing our improvement!

 

[HobokenHusky]

Was also relieved to hear the announcers say that the staff has noted Sherrief's habit of tucking and putting his eyes down to obviously run way too early. He did this constantly at BYU and the defense picked up on it. I thought even in this game he showed improvement scrambling while still keeping his eyes down field for a pass a la Johnny football. He has definite wheels as we saw when he turned the right corner this week so improving in this area could really make him a huge weapon.

 

[HobokenHusky]

Was also relieved to hear the announcers say that the staff has noted Sherrief's habit of tucking and putting his eyes down to obviously run way too early. He did this constantly at BYU and the defense picked up on it. I thought even in this game he showed improvement scrambling while still keeping his eyes down field for a pass a la Johnny football. He has definite wheels as we saw when he turned the right corner this week so improving in this area could really make him a huge weapon.